First Facilities, Cities to Earn GBAC STAR Accreditation This Month
June 26, 2020
The first facilities to earn the new GBAC STAR accreditation from the Global Biorisk Advisory Council, a division of ISSA—The Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association, are scheduled to be announced by the end of June. To achieve accreditation, applicants must demonstrate compliance with the program’s 20 elements covering cleaning, disinfecting and infectious disease prevention.
In less than two months after the launch of the GBAC STAR program on May 7, thousands of facilities committed to the program — from large hotel chains, convention centers and arenas to small restaurants, bowling alleys and barber shops.
“I love that this first batch of successful applicants includes both a gigantic convention center and a tiny restaurant,” says John Barrett, executive director of ISSA. He added that the program, which grew out of a partnership with GBAC that was only made official last year, has grown bigger and faster than ISSA could ever have imagined.
To respond to the initial demand for training to help minimize the risk of infectious agents, GBAC took a program they had created that usually runs three days and costs $3,000 and turned it into a 2.5-hour online curriculum that costs $150 for ISSA members and $300 for non-members.
More than 17,000 organizations took that initial course, but then ISSA started hearing that people wanted more: They wanted facility certification — which is how GBAC STAR was created.
“GBAC STAR is the gold standard of safe facilities, providing third-party validation that ensures facilities implement strict protocols for biorisk situations,” said Patricia Olinger, GBAC’s executive director. “Accreditation empowers facility owners and managers to assure workers, customers and key stakeholders that they have proven systems in place to deliver clean and healthy environments that are safe for business.”
The GBAC STAR program is designed to take between 4-6 weeks, which is why the first facilities that applied are just now starting to achieve accreditation. “It was designed for speed,” says Barrett. “That’s what people need to be able to open.”
Although the program was created for facilities, ISSA has also received applications from cities. “We never dreamed that cities would want to be certified,” said Barrett. “But we had 15 cities ask, and we said OK. We love the idea that we can help a city open up again.”
Among the cities seeking accreditation is Dallas. Their application not only includes VisitDallas and the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center but also the Dallas Tourism Public Improvement District and the city’s arts and cultural institutions.
The cost of accreditation varies according to the type of building, with the prices posted on GBAC’s website. Examples include hotels, which cost $3/room/year; restaurants at $5/seat/year; and arenas at $.30/seat/year.
“We have moved from a world where cleaning meant pretty and nice-smelling to a world where you have to prove you’ve removed harmful pathogens,” says Barrett. “When you’ve done that, you will be awarded the GBAC STAR.”
For more information on GBAC STAR accreditation, click here.
Partner Voices
Just when it seems like Las Vegas can’t get any bigger, brighter or more exciting for groups, MGM Resorts raises the bar again. The company continues to invest and innovate across its portfolio of Las Vegas resorts, with new attractions and upgraded experiences for attendees of all interests.
Remodeled Guest Rooms
MGM Grand is the largest single hotel in the world with over 5,000 guest rooms and an 850,000-square-foot conference center. It is home to the newly remodeled MGM Grand Studio Tower—700 reimagined guest rooms with a fun mid-century vibe. Nearby, the iconic New York-New York Las Vegas Hotel & Casino recently completed a $63M redesign and remodel of its 1,830 guest rooms and 155 suites.
Down the street, Bellagio Las Vegas is sporting renovated rooms in the Spa Tower with sunrise-inspired decor and luxurious soaking tubs in Premier King rooms after a $110-million transformation.
Reinvented Luxury Experiences
The Luxury Meetings District, made up of Bellagio Las Vegas, ARIA Resort & Casino, Vdara Hotel & Spa, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Park MGM and NoMad Las Vegas, is now more connected than ever before. A new interior walkway opened this October for a seamless attendee experience – connecting Vdara, Bellagio, and The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, guests can now walk from Park MGM to Bellagio in around 15 minutes.
New on the scene in the Luxury Meetings District is Cathedrale at ARIA, TAO Group’s upscale establishment specializing in exquisite French-Mediterranean cuisine offering elevated private dining experiences that opened in May.
Heralded by World’s Best 50 Restaurants, GQ and VOGUE, LPM at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas is opening this fall and will deliver its signature spontaneity and imaginative celebration of France’s Mediterranean cuisine, art, and culture to the unique luxury resort in impeccable fashion.
A “New Wave for Mandalay Bay
A new wave of enhancements and experiences has arrived at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, including Flanker Kitchen + Sports Bar, an 8,445-square-foot restaurant that opened this June, perfect for pre- and post-game eats and drinks. Event planner’s favorite, Chef Michael Mina’s StripSteak, received a full renovation and now includes one of the largest private dining rooms on The Strip. Retro by Voltaggio debuts a one-year residency with a fun take on pop culture of the 80s and 90s with classic American dishes. An exciting addition planned for 2024 is Swingers, a 40,000-square-foot oasis of street food, miniature golf and art at Mandalay Bay.
Most exciting for meeting planners, the 2.1 million-square-foot Mandalay Bay Convention Center is undergoing a complete refresh, with lightened space, added eye-catching art, and improved technology infrastructure for even more flexible space. Energy-efficient digital signage now leads the way with faster internet speeds and new AV options.
From renovated guest rooms and meeting spaces to celebrated dining options and dedicated teams, MGM Resorts is dedicated to delivering exceptional and innovative meeting experiences.
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